Design and Operational Analyses of Activated Sludge Processes Using Respirometrically Calibrated Models

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 753-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Rozich
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Model Calibration ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Case Histories ◽  
Model Case ◽  
Operational Strategies ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Technical Basis ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

The purpose of this paper is to present the background and examples of methodology which enable environmental engineers and scientists to analyze activated sludge processes much more effectively than is otherwise possible with conventional approaches. Good process analyses are key for devising optimal design and operational strategies. The key features to the technique presented herein are the field-proven predictability of the model and the methodology for collecting data needed for calibrating the process model. Case histories prove the predictability of the model that is associated with the process analysis approach. The advantage of the approach advocated herein is the use of respirometric techniques to calibrate the model. These methods enable the process analyst to collect the requisite data for model calibration in twenty-four hours or less. This feature enables one to use this process analysis methodology for both design and operational applications. The paper will present the technical basis for the process model and how respirometric methods are utilized to compute biokinetic constants in a manner which is consistent with kinetic theory. Case histories will be discussed that demonstrate the predictability of the modeling approach and demonstrate the utility of this tool for process analysis.

Model Calibration for the High-Purity Oxygen Activated Sludge Process – Algorithm Development and Evaluation

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weibo (Weber) Yuan ◽  
David Okrent ◽  
Michael K. Stenstrom
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
High Purity ◽  
Model Calibration ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Complex Method ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Activated Sludge Model ◽  
Kinetic Coefficients ◽  
Calibration Algorithm

A model calibration algorithm is developed for the high-purity oxygen activated sludge process (HPO-ASP). The algorithm is evaluated under different conditions to determine the effect of the following factors on the performance of the algorithm: data quality, number of observations, and number of parameters to be estimated. The process model used in this investigation is the first HPO-ASP model based upon the IAWQ (formerly IAWPRC) Activated Sludge Model No. 1. The objective function is formulated as a relative least-squares function and the non-linear, constrained minimization problem is solved by the Complex method. The stoichiometric and kinetic coefficients of the IAWQ activated sludge model are the parameters focused on in this investigation. Observations used are generated numerically but are made close to the observations from a full-scale high-purity oxygen treatment plant. The calibration algorithm is capable of correctly estimating model parameters even if the observations are severely noise-corrupted. The accuracy of estimation deteriorates gradually with the increase of observation errors. The accuracy of calibration improves when the number of observations (n) increases, but the improvement becomes insignificant when n>96. It is also found that there exists an optimal number of parameters that can be rigorously estimated from a given set of information/data. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine what parameters to estimate and to evaluate the potential benefits resulted from collecting additional measurements.

Application of mathematical tools to improve the design and operation of activated sludge plants. Case study: the new WWTP of Galindo-Bilbao Part II: Operational strategies and automatic controllers

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Galarza ◽  
E. Ayesa ◽  
M. T. Linaza ◽  
A. Rivas ◽  
A. Salterain
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Operational Strategies ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
State Behaviour ◽  
Operating Space ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Automatic Controllers ◽  
Operating Constraints

This paper presents a new sensitivity analysis methodology for Activated Sludge WWTPs. It is based on both (a) the calculation of the range of “manipulated input variables” that satisfy the restrictions imposed on the “output variables” and (b) on the computation of isolines of the output variables inside the feasible operating space. This analysis allows a more precise description of the operating constraints, facilitates the understanding of the steady-state behaviour of the process and detects possible areas where the process is very sensitive to small disturbances. The feasible operating space for two Activated Sludge WWTP processes for CN removal (RDN, DRDN), using SRT and DO level as “input variables” as well as effluent quality and exploitation costs as the main “output variables” is studied. The proposed methodology facilitates the selection of the appropriate operational strategy and the design of automatic controllers. Some examples of the application of this methodology for the design of automatic controllers in a real WWTP are briefly presented.

Modelling, Control and On-Line Estimation of Activated Sludge Bulking

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Chen ◽  
M. B. Beck
Keyword(s):  
Kalman Filter ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Unit Process ◽  
Operating Variables ◽  
Sludge Bulking ◽  
On Line ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

Sludge bulking is a problem widespread in the operation of activated sludge processes. Over the past fifteen years much research has been applied to identifying the nature of the microbial species responsible for bulking and to developing an understanding of their population dynamics. While some isolated attempts have been made at developing a unit process model capable of simulating the behaviour of bulking, none have been extensively evaluated against field data from full scale plants. This paper describes the development of a multiple-species model of the activated sludge process (for both the reactor and settler), its application to the assessment of various operational strategies for the control of bulking, and its simplification for incorporation into an on-line estimation scheme using a Kalman filter. Routine operating data from the Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works in Manchester are used for identification (calibration) of the model. Simulation studies of control strategies are based on the same Works. By using the Kalman filter to reconstruct real-time estimates of the “unmeasurable” states of the process model, the paper also explores the extent to which this filter-based control can bring improvements over similar control based entirely upon conventionally measured operating variables.

Selection of operational strategies in activated sludge processes based on optimization algorithms

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 327-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ayesa ◽  
B. Goya ◽  
A. Larrea ◽  
L. Larrea ◽  
A. Rivas
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Mathematical Optimization ◽  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Mathematical Tool ◽  
Operational Strategies ◽  
Direct Search Algorithm ◽  
Plant Configuration ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes ◽  
Selection Of

This paper presents a new optimization algorithm for the selection of design and operation parameters in complex Activated Sludge (AS) processes. The algorithm estimates automatically the dimensions and operating point of the plant that minimize a global penalty function combining effluent requirements and costs. The mathematical optimization is based on a direct search algorithm integrated in a previously developed simulation package. Some illustrative examples concerning the design and operation of the Alpha process have been included to show the potential of this kind of mathematical tool when the complexity of plant configuration increases. The results obtained by the optimization procedure generate useful guidelines for the design and operation and suggest a great potential in the application for solving more complex problems when additional objectives and costs are included.

Activated Sludge Treatment of Kraft Mill Effluents from Conventional and Oxygen Bleaching

1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 427-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Nevalainen ◽  
P.-R. Rantala ◽  
J. Junna ◽  
R. Lammi
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Kraft Pulp ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
Chlorinated Phenols ◽  
Pulp Mills ◽  
Main Interest ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Kraft Pulp Mills ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes ◽  
Oxygen Bleaching

Conventional and oxygen bleaching effluents from hardwood kraft pulp mills were treated in laboratory-scale activated sludge processes. The main interest was the fate of organochlorine compounds in the activated sludge process. In the treatment of conventional bleaching wastewaters the BOD7-reduction was 80-91 % and in oxygen bleaching wastewaters 86-93 %. The respective CODCr removals were about 40 % and about 50 %. The AOX reductions were on average 22 % and 40 % in the treatment of conventional and oxygen bleaching effluents, respectively. The reductions of chlorinated phenols, guajacols and catecols were usually more than 50 % in both reactors. Very little accumulation of AOX into the sludge was observed. The stripping of AOX from aeration unit was insignificant.

Automatic monitoring of denitrification rates and capacities in activated sludge processes using fluorescence or redox potential

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 121-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Isaacs ◽  
Terry Mah ◽  
S. K. Maneshin
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Redox Potential ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Automatic Monitoring ◽  
Organic Substrate ◽  
Anoxic Zone ◽  
Optimal Dosing ◽  
Denitrifying Microorganisms ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

A novel method is described to automatically estimate several key parameters affecting denitrification in activated sludge processes: the nitrate concentration, the denitrification capacity, and the maximum (substrate unlimited) and actual denitrification rates. From these, the concentration of active denitrifying microorganisms and the quality of available organic substrate pool can be estimated. Additionally, a modification of the method allows the determination of the efficacy of various carbon substrates to enhance denitrification, and this can be used to determine optimal dosing rates of an external carbon source. The method is based on measurements of either fluorescence or redox potential (ORP) in an isolated mini-reactor, the Biological Activity Meter (BAM), situated in the anoxic zone of the wastewater treatment plant. Advantages of the method are that it is in situ, operating at the same temperature as in the measured anoxic zone, requires no pumps or pipes for mixed liquor sampling, consumes little or no reagents, and uses measurement signals which are instantaneous and low maintenance, one of which provides a direct measure of biological activity.

Floc size distribution and bacterial activities in membrane separation activated sludge processes for small-scale wastewater treatment/reclamation

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boran Zhang ◽  
Kazuo Yamamoto ◽  
Shinichiro Ohgaki ◽  
Naoyuki Kamiko
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Membrane Separation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Floc Size ◽  
Denitrification Activity ◽  
Concentration Changes ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes

Activated sludges taken from full-scale membrane separation processes, building wastewater reuse system (400m3/d), and two nightsoil treatment plants (50m3/d) as well as laboratory scale membrane separation bioreactor (0.062m3/d) were analyzed to characterize membrane separation activated sludge processes (MSAS). They were also compared with conventional activated sludges(CAS) taken from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Specific nitrification activity in MSAS processes averaged at 2.28gNH4-N/kgMLSS.h were higher than that in CAS processes averaged at 0.96gNH4-N/kgMLSS.h. The denitrification activity in both processes were in the range of 0.62-3.2gNO3-N/kgMLSS.h without organic addition and in the range of 4.25-6.4gNO3-N/kgMLSS.h with organic addition. The organic removal activity in nightsoil treatment process averaged at 123gCOD/kgMLSS.h which was significantly higher than others. Floc size distributions were measured by particle sedimentation technique and image analysis technique. Flocs in MSAS processes changed their sizes with MLSS concentration changes and were concentrated at small sizes at low MLSS concentration, mostly less than 60 μm. On the contrary, floc sizes in CAS processes have not much changed with MLSS concentration changes and they were distributed in large range. In addition, the effects of floc size on specific nitrification rate, denitrification rate with and without organic carbon addition were investigated. Specific nitrification rate was decreased as floc size increased. However, little effect of floc size on denitrification activity was observed.

Minimization of activated sludge production by chemically stimulated energy spilling

2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.-H. Chen ◽  
H.-K. Mo ◽  
S. Saby ◽  
W.-k. Yip ◽  
Y. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Staining Technique ◽  
Microbial Culture ◽  
Dapi Staining ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Energy Spilling ◽  
Activated Sludge Processes ◽  
Sludge Production

Minimization of excess sludge production in activated sludge processes has been pursued around the world in order to meet stringent environmental regulations on sludge treatment and disposal. To achieve this goal, physical, chemical, and biological approaches have been proposed. In this paper, a chemical compound, 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) was tested for enhancing microbial energy spilling of the sludgeso as to minimize its growth. In order to examine this, an exploratory study was conducted using both batch and continuous activated sludge cultures. Batch experiments with these two cultures were carried out at different initial concentrations of TCS. It has been confirmed that an addition of TCS is effective in reducing the production of both the sludge cultures, particularly the continuous culture where the observed growth yield was reduced by around 70%, when the initial TCS concentration was 0.8 ppm. Meanwhile, the substrate removal activity of this culture was found not to be affected at this TCS concentration. To further evaluate the TCS effect, a pure microbial culture of E. coli was employed. Batch experiment results with this culture implied that TCS might be able to reduce the cell density of E. coli drastically when an initial TCS concentration was greater than 0.12 ppm. It was also found that TCS was not toxic to this type of bacteria. Microscopic examinations with a 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining technique revealed that TCS neither affected the cell division nor altered the cell size of E. coli. However, both the cell ATP content and the cell dry weight were reduced significantly with the addition of TCS.

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